On a Friday afternoon in late June, Senghi found herself lounging in an oddly comfortable armchair outside of a radio studio. Variety season was on summer break, but Joonah still kept his pace up, making appearances and gigs both here and there. Today was no exception.
Senghi was tired, and her cheeks were flushed from the stress of having her day ruined by a text from Hana. She really didn't want to be here right now. But...
She tried to peek throught the glass of the studio window, noticing Joonah's silhouette. His hands were waving around in the air as always during interviews.
Senghi sighed and sipped her ice coffee, then dug through her purse, and eventually took out a book that she had been trying to get into for a week.
"It's now or never, Han Kang", she muttered to the writer's portrait on the back.
Joonah was chatting and joking around with the radio host, as he suddenly smelled Senghi's scent. The sweet tone of musk made his entire body start to buzz. He hurried to wrap things up and headed out of the studio, stopping in front of Senghi with a small smirk on his lips.
"Having fun?" he asked with a hint of playfulness in his voice.
Senghi flinched, then looked up and and greeted him with an eye roll.
"Yeah, having a blast here."
Before she had a chance to react, Joonah quickly stretched his arm out and grabbed her coffee, stealing several sips before returning it with a content smile. Senghi glared at him, trying to sound annoyed.
"Honestly, you're such a jerk. Do you know how much I paid for that?"
"Oh come on", Joonah chuckled. "I just worked very hard in there. I deserved it."
Senghi looked at the coffe, her forehead frowned.
"Well, I can't drink this now." She got out of the chair and started walking towards the stairwell. "It's officially contaminated. Are you coming, or what?"
Joonah caught up with her, feigning an innocent expression.
"Oh come on, it's not like I have some contagious disease."
"Oh, but you do. You have Chronical Jerkness and I'm sure it's contagious, because you gave it to Jinho", Senghi muttered while checking her phone. "Look, he laid out another dirty word on our Scribbles game."
She showed him the screen.
"It's almost as if the scholar is starting to outshine the master."
Watching her phone screen, Joonah let out a bark of laughter.
"Wow, he's actually becoming a proper troublemaker. I guess he's turning into a real variety star."
Senghi scoffed.
"By the way, aren't you going to ask me why I'm picking you up on my only free night of the week? You know, I could've been lying on my rooftop right now, enjoying the weather and having a REAL drink."
Joonah raised an eyebrow.
"Just don't tell me you're actually choosing to spend time with me over sunbathing? If that's the case, I'm honored."
"No, that's not the case." Senghi gave him a teasing smirk. "Hana has a cold, so she asked me to pack your bags for the weekend. Are you pumped for Gunsan Strawberry festival, by the way?"
A small wrinkle started forming right above Joonah's nose.
"Wait, what do you mean you're packing my bags?"
"Your. Stylist. Has. A. Cold", Senghi repeated mockingly slow, articulating every word. "I'm filling in for Hana tonight. She sent me a list of what stuff to pack. Oh, and you'll be doing your own hair and makeup this weekend. But I guess you don't need to be super dolled up for Gunsan, right?"
Joonah let out an exasperated sigh.
"Ugh, great. So basically, I'm going to look like crap during the festival?"
"You never look like crap." The words slipped out of Senghi before she had a chance to filter them. She cleared her throat and avoided his gaze. "I mean... you're a decent groomer yourself, you'll be fine. Just bring the CC cream, hair wax and a bit of eye liner."
Joonah grinned, amused and a little flattered, as they got out of the building and climbed into Senghi's car.
As they entered his apartment some time later, Joonah suddenly felt nervous. Senghi's precense made his head spin, his thoughts a chaotic mess of questions and emotions. As they walked into the kitchen, their shoulders brushed against each other, the subtle connection making it even harder for him to clear his mind.
Hey... I've been meaning to ask you, by the way..." he started, his voice a little hesitant.
"Mmhm?" Senghi took a small step to the side, trying to avoid too much of the body contact. "What's up?"
"I was just wondering... Have you always been single?"
Senghi gave him a perplexed glance, laughing a little awkwardly.
"Always? As in have I ever had a boyfriend?"
"I mean, I get that you've had boyfriends... But were there ever anything serious?"
"Oh well... not in a while. You know, I like to keep life simple." Senghi glanced at him a little defensively. "Why this sudden interest in my love life?"
Joonah shrugged and took out a cup noodles pack from one of the cupboards.
"I was just curious. I mean, we've been working together for a while now, and I hardly know anything about you." He gave her a crooked smile, hoping that the casual pretense would hide the real reason behind his question.
"Well... we mostly talk about you, don't we?" Senghi poured herself a glass of water, emptied it in one frantic chug and put the glass down.
"I have to start packing now."
Joonah's gaze followed her as she left the kitchen. He heard how she opened his walk-in closet door and started rummaging around. With a low, disappointed hum, he took a deep breath, filling his nose with her scent, before starting to prep the noodles.
"I almost got married", he suddenly heard her say from the other side of the wall.
"Really? You must have been in love, then."
"I'm not so sure about that." He heard her chuckle with a hint of self-irony in her voice, and his heart clenched a little at her words. "It was more like a case of co-dependency gone too far."
As Senghi browsed through Joonah's shirts and pants, she suddenly felt his presence close to her and jumped a little at the sight of him, suddenly standing in the doorway.
"Can I help? It's my clothes, after all."
"You can pack underwear and socks. I'm not getting that detailed."
Joonah chuckled.
"Fine, I'll do that. What are we bringing, anyway?"
Senghi held up a hot pink t-shirt with a Metallica print.
"This baby, amongst others. Hana sure has a good eye."
She could have kicked herself as she noticed a mischevious glimpse in his eye.
"You're complimenting me a lot today."
"I was complimenting Hana, and possibly the shirt. Not you."
Senghi held back a nervous laughter, as Joonah tilted his head and smiled. His scent filled up the secluded space, mixing with her own and making her stomach flutter.
"Come on now, admit that you find me cute in that shirt." His voice was tinted with amusement, and... something more.
"No way you can make me do that!"
Quickly, Senghi moved past him and out of the wardrobe, and he immediately chased after her with a small chuckle, playfulness and underlying desire crackling between them. As he caught up with her, Joonah suddenly wasn't sure of what to do, and merely put his hands on her shoulders.
"Don't run away, please."
And just like that, the mischevious atmosphere shifted. Senghi turned around to look at him, her face tentative and her eyes a shade darker than usual. Joonah raised a hesitant hand, gently grazing her cheek. He could feel her soft skin prickle under his touch, and a low, humming sound escaped his throat.
Senghi's gaze darted between his soft eyes and his plump, delicious-looking lips. She opened her mouth and closed it again, lost in the feel of his hot breath on her face.
"I... I can't." Her voice was a mere whisper.
With a soft sigh, Joonah pulled his hand through his hair and dropped his gaze. The spell was finally broken, replaced by awkwardness. A sharp ding from the microwave pulled them back to reality.
"I guess my noodles are done", he stated sheepishly.
"And... um, I should finish packing. Remember to add the socks and the underwear later.
"Socks and underwear. Got it."